Syracuse Lacrosse Rolls Past Georgetown in Chippy Matchup

Orange offense erupts in second quarter to cruise to 18-12 victory over No. 13 Hoyas

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:51pm

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In a highly anticipated nonconference matchup, No. 8 Syracuse lacrosse defeated No. 13 Georgetown 18-12 in a game that featured physical play and several penalties. The Orange offense found its groove in the second quarter, scoring 11 of the next 14 goals to take a 12-6 lead at halftime that they would not relinquish. Star attackers Joey Spallina and Michael Leo led the way for Syracuse, which saw 11 different players record at least one point in the blowout win.

Why it matters

This victory extends Syracuse's winning streak to five games and showcases the depth and firepower of their offense, which was able to overcome a slow start and a chippy second half to cruise to a comfortable win over a ranked opponent. The game also highlighted the long-standing rivalry between these two programs, with the physical play and penalties suggesting there is no love lost between them.

The details

After falling behind 3-1 early, Syracuse's offense erupted in the second quarter, scoring 11 of the next 14 goals to take a 12-6 lead into halftime. Spallina and Leo led the charge, each scoring two goals during the dominant stretch. The Orange's relentless attack fired 14 shots on target during the quarter, overwhelming the Georgetown defense. At the other end, Syracuse's defense kept the Hoyas' top scorers in check, limiting the Connor brothers to just two points in the frame. The physical play continued in the second half, with several penalties called on both sides, but the Orange's large lead allowed them to cruise to the 18-12 victory.

  • Syracuse fell behind 3-1 early in the first quarter.
  • Over the next 15 minutes, Syracuse outscored Georgetown 8-3 to take a 12-6 lead at halftime.
  • The physical play and penalties continued in the second half, but Syracuse maintained its comfortable lead to win 18-12.

The players

Joey Spallina

A star attacker for Syracuse who led the charge with six points in the victory.

Michael Leo

Recorded a game-high five goals for the Orange in the win.

Anderson Moore

The Georgetown goalie who made several strong saves early on to keep the Hoyas in the game.

Liam Connor

One half of Georgetown's dynamic scoring duo, who was limited to just two points in the second quarter.

Rory Connor

The other half of Georgetown's dynamic scoring duo, who was also held in check by the Syracuse defense.

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What they’re saying

“When we're having fun, flying around out there and Johnny (Mullen) is doing a good job of getting the ball it's really easy to stack goals that way. When we score two ro three and a row and the Dome's rocking, I think you just want to keep scoring because you just want to hear the crowd go crazy.”

— Joey Spallina, Syracuse Attacker

“We've got a lot of great players who have been getting opportunities. Coach (Pat) March has been changing it up in the midfield quite a bit. Tucker Kellogg and Charlie Kraftson are guys who have earned some more time, so we got some opportunity to see them play.”

— Gary Gait, Syracuse Head Coach

“When I addressed the team after the game I said we need to do a better job (of being disciplined) and work on that some more. If that's a one-goal game, that could cost us.”

— Gary Gait, Syracuse Head Coach

The takeaway

Syracuse's dominant second-quarter performance and balanced offensive attack proved too much for Georgetown to handle, as the Orange cruised to a comfortable victory in a chippy matchup between these two longtime rivals. The game showcased the depth and firepower of Syracuse's offense, which will be a key factor as they look to continue their winning streak and make a push for a deep postseason run.